6 deaths among 12 ‘cases’ of Chandipura viral encephalitis across Guj

Gujarat Health Minister Rushikesh Patel on Monday advised caution amid reports of six suspected child deaths in the state due to Chandipura viral encephalitis. However, he said there was no need for panic.

Twelve suspected cases have been reported so far in the state of which six children are currently under treatment.

On the suspected deaths, the minister said the government was awaiting test results to confirm if they were caused by Chandipura virus.

The samples of all these suspected cases have been sent to the lab at Pune for testing, the results of which are expected in an average of 12 to 15 days, said officials.

The cases were first reported by paediatricians at the civil hospital at Himatnagar in Sabarkantha after the death of four children on July 10.

The Chandipura virus, a member of the Vesiculovirus genus of the family Rhabdoviridae, causes fever, with symptoms similar to flu, and acute encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

The symptoms include high grade fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, headache, and convulsions.

It is caused by the bite of a vector-infected sand fly and is especially common among children between 9 months and 14 years old.